(Barbados Nation) Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has told Parliament that the Prevention of Corruption Bill would ensure that the values to which this country subscribes are “protected from erosion.”

The legislation, which requires asset disclosures from those in public life, received the endorsement of every member of the Government when it was debated in the House of Assembly yesterday evening.

“This is a matter we had to deal with,” the Prime Minister said. “We had to be on alert to make sure that the values to which we subscribe are protected from erosion and we do that because we believe that those values are worth fighting for and that is why we have this piece of legislation before us.”

Stuart acknowledged that there was a perception that corruption takes place among public officials though he did not share that view.